Chapter 270: Uncertain Future
Ji Ling was stunned, looking at "Senior Lu" in front of him with astonishment. He couldn't understand how "Senior Lu" suddenly had weak legs.
Qiao Wan covered her face silently, her mouth twitching. "I was just pretending earlier."
Pretending?!
Shi Jinyi also froze.
"Well..." Qiao Wan blushed. "I'm not really a skilled person at all. I was just bluffing the demonic cultivator earlier to scare him."
But Shi Jinyi and the others didn't seem to believe her very much.
Hu Yue showed understanding on his face, and quickly went up to help her, comforting her: "Senior Lu, don't worry, we know that you don't want to attract attention in front of others."
"Don't worry! We will definitely keep this secret!"
Daydreaming is a kind of illness, and it really needs to be treated!!
After some effort, everyone quickly helped Qiao Wan out of the car. Some carried water, others handed out biscuits.
To be honest, Qiao Wan almost got her back soaked in cold sweat experiencing all this for the first time. And Shi Jinyi looked at her with a completely different expression. He respectfully bowed to her, saying, "I apologize, Senior, for not recognizing your true abilities before."
Shi Jinyi felt embarrassed to mention that he had actually suspected Qiao Wan of being a monster.
Looking at Qiao Wan's beautiful face and her ability to command thunder, Shi Jinyi couldn't help but ask, "Senior, do you have a direction for this journey? Have you decided where you will go?"
Qiao Wan hadn't figured out how to explain yet when Shi Jinyi already helped her imagine it.
Senior Lu, probably a wise person living in seclusion, Shi Jinyi secretly thought. After a hundred years of seclusion, he didn't want to reveal his identity. That's why he pretended to come from overseas to inquire about the current situation.
This logic is fine.
The more Shi Jinyi looked at Qiao Wan, the more serious his expression became, and the more cautious and respectful his words and actions.
Shi Jinyi took the initiative to ask her where she was going, causing Qiao Wan's hand holding the bowl to tremble slightly.
Although she planned to join a sect, she hadn't decided which one. She was completely clueless at the moment. Choosing a sect is not as easy as filling out a college application.
Shi Jinyi and the others seemed to misunderstand something. Qiao Wan hesitated for a moment, but decided not to explain further. She took the initiative to ask, "To be honest, I want to join a sect."
Join a sect?
Ji Ling was stunned again: "Senior Lu, is your cultivation actually that of a lone cultivator?"
Qiao Wan was unsure how to bring up these questions. As she pondered, Shi Jinyi secretly nudged Ji Ling.
"A Ling, step aside. Can't you see that Senior Lu doesn't want to discuss this matter further?"
Shi Jinyi immediately explained, with great understanding, "Senior Lu hasn't decided which sect to join yet."
Qiao Wan nodded softly, "Indeed, I haven't thought it through."
Shi Jinyi quietly prepared his words and continued, "In this chaotic world, small sects struggle to survive, let alone protect their disciples. Among the major sects in the cultivation world, there are four: Kunshan, Cloud Mist Fairy Mansion, Qingyang Academy, and Great Compassion Cliff. The three major families are the Lu family, the Xiao family, and the Cen family. Kunshan is the first choice, but they have already finished recruiting disciples. There's still Chongde Ancient Garden and Qingyang Academy..."
Shi Jinyi paused for a moment and changed his wording gently: "These two places both belong to the Confucian school, and they have higher requirements for the students' knowledge compared to Buping College."
Qiao Wan immediately understood, that means they have higher requirements for the cultural subjects.
"Cloud Mist Fairy Mansion accepts more women, while Great Compassion Cliff requires people to become monks."
Ji Ling suddenly interrupted: "If Venerable One Miaofa wasn't in seclusion, I would gladly become a nun in the Great Hall of Light."
Before even reaching Buping College, they encountered a demonic cultivator like Zang Dajiang and suffered a particularly miserable defeat. Shi Jinyi wanted to introduce Senior Lu to Buping College and decided to point out the shortcomings of various families and sects.
"And the Lu family, Xiao family, and Cen family, to be honest, they are all clans and place more importance on bloodlines. It's difficult for us disciples to make a name for ourselves."
Qiao Wan isn't foolish and can certainly sense Shi Jinyi's intentions. But she herself is a pretender and doesn't feel right in blaming others for having ulterior motives. Besides, Shi Jinyi means well, and if Buping College is truly as good as he claims, it would be nice for Qiao Wan to have a companion on her journey there.
After carefully comparing the strengths and weaknesses of different options and considering her own academic achievements, Qiao Wan decisively chooses Buping College, which values inclusivity and equal education for all.
Qiao Wan calmly thinks to herself that one person extends an invitation, while the other kindly accepts. It's a win-win situation.
A visible expression of joy appears on Shi Jinyi's face. "Great! Now Senior Lu can accompany us!"
Ji Ling curiously asks, "Senior Lu, are you also planning to join us at Buping College?!"
Surrounded by the joyful gaze of everyone, Qiao Wan, who knows herself well, curved her lips into a polite smile and said, "Um... I hope you, my taoist friends, can bear with me on this journey."
After the decision was made, everyone was tired and injured, so they didn't feel like talking or laughing anymore. They all lay down to rest.
Listening to the sound of the drizzling night rain, thinking about her unknown future, Qiao Wan's heart sank. She tightly held onto her dress, trying hard to hold back her tears, and wearily closed her eyes.
The next morning, Shi Jinyi and the others prepared to set off.
They planned to first go to the nearby Baiyun Township.
Shi Jinyi led the way, smiling and saying, "I heard that Lone Sword Xie Xingzhi is about to head to the southern battlefield. He's currently staying in Baiyun Township. We plan to pay him a visit."
"Senior Lu, are you interested?"
"Lone Sword Xie Xingzhi?" Qiao Wan vaguely felt that this name was somewhat familiar, but upon further consideration, she got a headache and decided to let it go.
"Yes," smiled Shi Jinyi, "Lone Sword Xie Xingzhi, the sick sword Lu Pihan, Meng Canglang with the Canglang Sword, and Bai Shanhu of the Shining Sea, are all the youngest and most promising cultivators in the cultivation world. Oh, I almost forgot about Qiao Wan."
Ji Ling added, "It's a pity that Taoist Friend Qiao has been missing for a long time."
As they spoke, their eyes revealed longing. "It would be wonderful if we could meet Taoist Friend Xie," Ji Ling said.
Hu Yue sighed, "Don't get your hopes up. By the time we arrive, the inn where Taoist Friend Xie is staying might already be surrounded. It would be lucky if we could catch a glimpse of him."
After all, their talents were not particularly outstanding.
But we're talking about Xie Xingzhi here.
A year ago, in the battles in the northern region, he fought alone with his sword and defeated countless demonic cultivators. Even now, he still bears a scar on his face.
Listening to the excitement and joy in the words of these young men and women, Qiao Wan silently thought to herself. The cultivation world seemed to be more trendy than she imagined. Is this what it means to be a fan?
Speaking of this, didn't Taoist Friend Qiao used to be a nameless and ordinary disciple in Kunshan? Although she was a disciple under Yuqing Spiritual Master, their relationship was just like that. In the end, she relied on her own efforts and formed relationships with Taoist Friend Xie and others.
Another young boy suddenly said, "Even though our cultivation level is not high, don't we have Senior Lu?"
"Yeah, yeah, we have Senior Lu!"
The others' eyes brightened, saying, "With Senior Lu around, maybe Taoist Friend Xie will meet us."
They all turned their eager eyes towards Qiao Wan and said, "Senior Lu! Senior Lu, now that we've entered Baiyun Township, should we go visit Taoist Friend Xie?"
Qiao Wan sighed upon hearing this. She was just a simple person, and from the way they talked, Taoist Friend Xie seemed like a cool and handsome figure. With her being a big talker, she might be kicked out as soon as she steps in front of his door!
But these young boys and girls were so excited as if they were about to see Xie Xingzhi in the next second.
They were all quite young, in Qiao Wan's opinion, just high school students.
Qiao Wan felt helpless and couldn't do anything.
Given the current situation, they could only take it step by step. When they arrived at the inn where Taoist Friend Xie was staying, she would tell them that she was just an ordinary person and didn't have that much ability.
Soon, the group finally arrived at the entrance of Baiyun Village.
Meanwhile, Zang Dajiang nervously looked at the person in front of him wearing a black robe.
"So, you ran away?" The person in the black robe gave him a cold glance, with a hint of disappointment in their eyes.
"Are you stupid? Everyone knows that even if it's a donkey or a horse, you still have to lead it out for a walk. You got scared by someone who didn't even show their face?"
This person in the black robe was none other than Zhang Changfeng , the dark cultivator in charge of Baiyun Village. To be specific, he was Zang Dajiang's boss.
Both of them were "traitors" who betrayed the world of cultivation. Zhang Changfeng had managed to do better for himself, and Zang Dajiang felt a bit dissatisfied.
It sounds nice to say that, but you haven't truly faced that heavenly thunder.
But he didn't dare to act out.
After all, Zhang Changfeng was someone who had confronted the Demon Lord before.
Although Pei Chunzheng couldn't quite remember who Zhang Changfeng was, that alone was enough for Zhang Changfeng to boast about for half a year.
At the thought of Pei Chunzheng, Zhang Changfeng couldn't help but feel a sinking feeling.
When he first saw the Demon Lord, it was inside the Demon Palace.
The empty palace was lit by a row of dim candles. Through the swaying curtains, the expressionless Demon Lord walked out barefoot. His black hair flowed like a curtain down his cheeks, and his pale face resembled snow, even with a hint of unhealthy redness. A faint red glow could be seen in his eyes.
Although he was clearly a young boy, Zhang Changfeng felt as if he had glimpsed a sense of delicate femininity when he looked up at him for the first time.
It is said that those who have seen Pei Chunzheng, a sorcerer, in Kunshan, say that he is struggling to control his magic power. Under the influence of magic for a long time, he becomes even more cruel and dark.
Thinking about this, Zhang Changfeng couldn't help but shiver. He quickly composed himself and smirked, saying, "Since you're too scared to go, I'll go myself."
"I would like to see who exactly is sitting in that carriage, a skilled person or someone pretending to be magical."
